Despite a line extending outside, voters moved quickly through the polling station at the Chester Township municipal building Tuesday. Justin Zaremba/NJ.com

CHESTER TOWNSHIP — Lines of voters snaked outside the door of the municipal building into the brisk Tuesday morning, but not for long.

Claudia Whiteley said she was staying at a karate dojo that she and her
husband owned due to power outages following Hurricane Sandy, which was
serving as a charging station despite a lack of heat. Regardless of the
circumstances, Whitely said she was glad to be on line in the brisk autumn
day.

"I never miss voting, not even in these circumstances,"
Whiteley said. "I'm voting for (President) Obama and I don't care who
knows."

Among other Chester Township voters, Whiteley was among
the minority as many residents waiting in line indicated a preference for Gov. Mitt
Romney and U.S. Representative Paul Ryan due to concerns regarding the economy.

Maryellen Spence said she leans conservative, but was largely unclear on the issues facing the township and the school board — and unclear who she would choose.

In Chester Borough and Township, no one filed to run for the West Morris Regional Board of Education seat while Christine Hofstetter and Carolyn Klepp-Collins have filed to run for two of the three open seats on the local board of education.

"I've done my research, but I wish I was better informed about the board of education," Spence said.

Rich Lieb was more skeptical when it came to the effectiveness of local school boards.

"Most people who run for the school board are not competent," Lieb said.

In terms of getting voters into the building, Patrol Officer Ryan Steckle, who was directing traffic, said there was a 10-minute wait to get into
the municipal parking lot, but indicated that the lines to vote were
"moving fast."

"Organization is key," Steckle said. "But I wish we had a parking garage."